Milton Y. Tate, Jr.
Mayoral Candidates Questionnaire – 2019 Brenham (Washington County), Texas In each local election, the Washington County Chamber asks the following questions to candidates for policy-making positions. Please submit your responses to the following questions by email in either a Word or PDF file to
[email protected] by April 22, 2019. All candidate responses will be publicized to the membership of the Washington County Chamber and to all citizens on the website: www.BrenhamTexas.com. Please include the questions printed below in your return document.
1. Why have you decided to run for election at this time? Briefly outline the top 2-3 issues you feel will be of significant importance in the next four years. I decided to run because I feel I can continue to contribute to having a very stable and forwardlooking governing body. Brenham has a new City Manager who helped us launch our strategic planning for the future. We are going to have the opportunity to review the way we did things in the past in a new light. There are projects we are ready to launch that I would like the opportunity to help lead them to final completion. The top 2-3 issues I feel will be significant importance in the next four year. 1.) Economic Development, is needed, both retail and manufacturing. 2.) The financial restraints being put on cities by the current legislature. 3.) The continued growth of the City of Brenham and the City’s ability to keep up with the infrastructure needed.
2. What key competencies do you feel you possess to be an elected official? Briefly describe your background in areas such as financial management, ability to be an effective leader and communicator, understanding of labor and human resource issues, understanding of local economic issues, ability to contribute to strategic planning and initiatives. I have been Mayor for 15 years and know how the city operates in most areas. I was in private business for 53 years. I am a lawyer by profession, having helped manage the firm for over 43 years and also a partner in the title insurance company for over 52 years. I also have been president of Brenham Industrial Foundation (predecessor to Economic Development Foundation) and many other organizations in Brenham, including my church. In these organizations, I learned about financial management, understanding labor and human resources, local economic issues and took part in strategic planning. I feel all of the experiences including being a lawyer by profession, has given me the ability to be an effective leader and communicator.
3. What do you consider to be the top issue affecting local economic growth? The top issue in my opinion is the first-time buyer of houses and on a broader scale, affordable housing. We can supply some of the labor needed by new industries and businesses coming to our community, but if they bring some of their own group or trying to attract new people to come to Brenham, the lower paying employees may find it difficult to find an affordable house. The $250,000.00 and higher prices homes are selling, but there is not much available for the lower income people.
Milton Y. Tate, Jr. 4. What could you do as an elected official to help small businesses in the community?
The City through the Main Street Program offers incentives for building renovations, has developed and continues to develop programs and festivals for the downtown to attract people to it. Among these are Hot Nights Cool Tunes, Wine Stroll, events at the Simon Theater and several others. The Parks and Recreation Department for the city schedules many tournaments that are held in our parks for baseball and soccer. Teams come from many areas of the state and in most cases, parents accompany the students and have time to go shopping and eating.
5. How important do you feel the relationship is between the City of Brenham and Washington County government? How could it be improved? The relationship between city and county is very important. The recent change in the position of county judge and one new commissioner gives both the city and county an opportunity to step forward on a new page and develop open communications between the elected officials. As mayor, I will strive to see that myself and all city council members and staff keep the county judge aware of all areas that the city and county are currently working on or any other matter that would require the two entities to work together in the future.
6. What project or issue would be of primary importance to you to work on if you are elected? Economic Development both manufacturing and retail, is of primary importance at this time. We must have a balance of manufacturing and retail growth. We have a new shopping center coming to Brenham, so it will be important to make sure our economic director, Susan Cates, and others strive very hard to recruit manufacturing prospects.
7. What would you do to help ensure that the local economy continues to grow and evolve? Be responsive to any and all issues that come up that might be deterrent to our growth. Make sure our regulations and procedures are not standing in the way of the local economy to continue to grow and evolve.
Are there any other comments you would like to make? Brenham has a great future. We as public official need to stay abreast of the needs for additional infrastructure as the city grows. We must marshal our assets.
WASHINGTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 314 South Austin Street Brenham, TX 77833 979-836-3695 www.BrenhamTexas.com Fax: 979-836-2540 Email:
[email protected]
